Radiator



Oct. 11, 1932. R. '1 -NELSON 1,882,085

` RADIATORl Filed April 4, -1931 Patented et, It, 1932 RICHARD E. NLSON, F MOLINE, ILLINOIS, .ASSIGNGR TG THE HERE NELSQN CORPORATION, 0F MOLINE, ILLINOIS, it. CORPORATIQN 0E ILLINOIS Application filed. April 4,'1931. Serial No. 527,773.

rIhis invention relates to tubular radiators which are provided with sheetmetal fins to radiate the heat from the steam in the tubes to the air passing between the extended sur face aiiorded by the heating plates.

In radiators of this type, it is customary to provide agroup of tubes extending between manifolds, and make rigid connections at each end of the tubes with the adjacent manifold, with the result that the unequal expansion and contraction to which the individual tubes are subjected frequently subjects the radiator to strains which, in the course of time, cause leakage or otherwise injure the tubes by tending to open the pores of the metal which accelerates corrosion. It is therefore of the utmost importance that each of the tubes of a group, which are united at each end to a common header, should be permitted to expand and contract independ- `ently, since in this way only can provision e lmade for taking up the unequal strains to which the various tubes of the group' are subjected.

The present invention relates to the provision in each tube of a bellows-folded, or

' similarly configured section, which adords opportunity 'forexpansion and contraction without in any way materially complicating the structure and without impairing the integrity of the unions between the ends of the tubes and the headers.

y 'I he invention alsorelates to the combination of tubes thus formed with rigid headers united by the provision of rigid exterior connections, so that provision is ai'orded within a structure which is rigidly reinforced against deformation, for the individual expansion and contraction of the tubes without imparting such movements to the exterior configuration of the radiator structure as a whole. This arrangement enables the tubes and fins to be constructed of relatively thin and fragile material, in order t0 vsecure the maximum radiating eii'ect and to reduce the weight of the material toa minimum, without, however, 'impairing the rigidity and ruggedness of the'radiator as a whole, so that the latter may be readily shipped and maof production without securing actual relief',630

from the dimculty. c

From the standpoint of radiation, the use of a. group of tubes with headers is preferable to the use of a single tube, since the group arrangement enables the radiator to be constructed to more desirable dimensions and multiplies the conduits for the travel of the steam, and otherwise improves lthe construction. A reduction in the number of tubes to one or two, compels the heat to travel longer distances from the core or heat source, andv this extra heat travel requires more feet ot surface at alowervtemperature to get the same result. Heretotore, the meritsv of the desirable group arrangement of tubes with 7e,

headers have been recognized, but the diculties occasioned by unequal expansion and contraction have impaired the utility ofthe desirable group arrangement and have in a large measure deterred its use.

The present invention is-intended to overcome the diiiculties noted and to enable the light-weight tubes to be arranged in any desirable form of groupingwithout danger of development ot strains or leaks and with es ample provision for the reinforcement of the radiator group as a whole. y Further objects and details of the invention will appear from the detailed description thereof, in conjunction with the accompany eo ing drawing,'wherein:

F ig. l shows a radiator composed of a..4 igroup of three tubes with a multiplicity of ns through which the tubes exten and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view o5 taken on the line 2 2 ofi? ig. l.

Each of the tubes 10 extends longitudinally of the radiator structure and has. its ends brazed or otherwise rigidly secured within a tube plate 11 which is brazed or otherwise ff? rigidly united to a header 12. A similar arrangement is employed at each end of the radiator, and in view ofthe fact that the headers themselves form no portion of `the present invention it is not deemed necessary toV describe them in detail except to polnt outv thin metal having high thermal conductivityv without requirement that the said radiating portions shall in themselves possess the strength required to support the radiator itself.

In order to provide for the individual expansion and contraction of the respective tubes, each of the tubes, near one of its ends, has formed therein the bellows-folded section 15 which extends for a short distance at a point in close proximity to the point of connection of the contiguous tube plate 11. It is not necessary to provide a similar bellowsfolded section at the opposite end of the tube, nor is it essential that said sectionbe located at one end of the tube, although for most purposes this will be found to be the most desirable location.

The group of tubes have mounted thereon a multiplicity of spaced fins or plates 16 which lie in closely adjacent parallel relation, and will ordinarily be of rectangular outline to give to the radiator structure, as a'whole,

a rectangular configuration. The fins are provided with aligned apertures through which the tubes extend, and the metal surrounding each of theapertures is displaced to form a circular flange 17 which arrangement serves to a'orda close metal-to-metai contact between the fins and the tubes, and at the same time serves to space the fins to the desired distance from one another. It will be lobserved that each fin abuts closely against the edges of the flan es struck out from the,

next adjacent lin, so t at the equal spacing of the fins is maintained from end to end of the radiator.

While the valves embodied in the headers in the particular form shown, constitute no portion of the present invention, nevertheless hese valves'maybe briefly described as folows:

The inlet header at the left hand portion of the figures has located therein a valve member 18 which coacts with the annular valve seat 19 constituting the throat of an inlet port 20. The valve is carried by a stem 21 which extends extcriorlv ofthe header and is i provided with a bevel pinion 22 meshing with av bevel pinion 23 on a shaft 24 entered through a journal 25 and having at its outer end an` adjusting handle 26, by which the valve may be regulated from a convenient v.pointtoadmit a heating mediumto the interior ofthe header. Y

\ The'he'ader, at the dischar e end, is provided with a tapered valve 27 w ich seats -within a nipple 28, controlling the iow of heating medium through the discharge port 29. The valve is thermostatically lcontrolled by an expansible member 30, the upper end of which is secured to a cap 31 threaded through the upper Wall of the header. These details may be varied or modified, or other forms of valve mechanism employed, without affecting the present invention, which resides primari- 1y' in the formation and mounting of the individual expansible tubes within a rigid framework capable of withstanding deformation. A

The tubes are preferably formed of copper or other ductile metal havin a high thermal conductivity, although the invention is not limited to tubes formed of any particular material. Nevertheless, the provision of .bellows-folded sections enables very thin tubing to be employed, which not only facilitates the formation of the bellows-folded sections, but also improves the radiating properties of the tubing and reduces the cost of the material employed and the aggregate weight of the radiator as a whole. Furthermore, the, arrangement is one which in no way impairs the rigidity of the connection between the tubes and headers which are secured in vthe usual manner, and constitutes a feature ployment of an exterior die having t e proper configuration in conjunction with hydraulic pressure within the tube, which serves to distend the metal to the required degree to furnish the folded formation.

In view of the fact that the actual expansion and contraction of the tubing is but a fraction of the capacity of the bellows-fold to accommodate such lexpansions and contractions, it is obvious that the strains attending suchA expansion and contraction will be distributed and disseminated in such a. way as to relieve lthe tube and connections from appreciable strains.

The provision of the reinforcing bars which connect the headers affords to the structure, as a` whole, sufficient rigidity to prevent deformation due to the strains occasioned by the making of pipe connections 1 or rough handling, so that the radiator, as a whole, will be protected against racking or deformation.

Although have described the ex ansible and contractible section as being of llowsfolded form, itwill be understood that by that expression I do not mean to limit the formation to precisely the coniiguration shown, since under that term I mean'to include other equivalent configurations consisting of one or more bends in the pipe adapted to subserve the intendedafunction and provide an area tted to take up the expansion and contraction of the tubes under variations in temperature. f, l

Itis also obvious that round or square tin plates and s iral ribbon may be used on each Atube as radiating surface.

l claim: 1 l. In a radiator, the combination of a pair of spaced headers, rigid reinforcing bars rigidly connected with the headers, a plurality of vrelatively thin and fragile radiator tubes .having their ends rigidly secured within the headers, and a plurality of closely spaced radiatin lns mounted upon the tubes, cachot the tuies tion integrally ormed with the tubes and adapted to provide for thermalexpansion.

and contraction.'

2. In a radiator, the 'combination of a pair of spaced headers, rigid reinforcing bars rigidly connected with the headers, a plurality of relatively thin and fragile radiator tubes. having their ends rigidly secured within the headers, and a plurality of closely spaced radiating ins'mounted u on the tubes each v of the tubes being provi ed with abellows folded section integrally formed with the tubes and adapted .to provide for thermal expansion and` contraction.

being rovided with a folded secspaced fragile radiating tins mounted upon 1 the tubes and lying between and in position to be protected e f ars.

- reiniorc T- 3. In a radiator, the combination of a pair of relatively shallow rectangular boxlike headers having Hat ends, rigid reinforcing bars havin their ends rigidly secured to the flat ends o the headers andconstituting a v cagelike structure, a plurality of relatively thin and fragile radiator tubes having their ends rigidily secured-within "the headers, andv lformed to provide-for individual expansion and contraction within the rigid cagelike structure, and a plurality of closely spaced radiating iins -mounted upon the tubes and lying between the rigid reinforcing bars.

4. In a radiator, the combination of a pair l of relatively shallow rectangular boxlike headers having flat ends, rigid reinforcing A bars having their ends rigidly secured to the liat ends of the vheaders and constituting a rigid ca :like structure, a plurality of ielativetl and :fragile radlatortulips havl ing eir ends rigidly secured within .the

' headers and extending.. in parallel relation with the rigid reinforcin'gebars and between said bars, each of the tu s being provided 

